While online holiday shopping from the comfort of home is certainly easier than a visit to the mall, it's this very convenience that makes it so easy to overspend. If last December's gift-giving expenses ended up eating into January's grocery budget, use these five tips to help you stay on track this year for financial peace of mind.
Be candid with those you celebrate with about your desire to stay on budget this year. If lavish gift exchanges are one of your family's long-standing traditions, it's OK to break the cycle. You might find that your nearest and dearest are as relieved as you are to have the pressure of finding the perfect gift removed.
Propose a per-person spending cap or draw names for a Secret Santa exchange. You might also consider buying one gift that the entire family can enjoy instead of multiple gifts for each individual.
Online retailer gift cards are certainly convenient, but they don't require a lot of creativity or effort. They also monetize your present, which lacks warmth. Craft custom gift certificate books for loved ones with coupons for things you know they appreciate such as:
- A one-hour foot rub
- An evening of babysitting
- A weekend of pet sitting
- Vacuuming and dusting for a whole month
- A garage or basement cleanup
Giving much-needed and appreciated services costs you nothing but time and attention. And your time and attention may be the most precious and priceless gift your loved ones want the most. Remember that holiday gifts don't have to be expensive to be valuable. Using your special talents to make life a little less stressful and more enjoyable for others delivers a holiday gift that can be treasured well into the new year.
Few things represent the warmth and joy of winter holidays more than homemade baked goods. Let friends know that this year you'd prefer to swap delicious sweet treats with them. Gather the kids for a cookie bake-off, and check out sites such as Food Network and Epicurious for new recipe ideas to augment your traditional family favorites.
Nothing says you have to give everyone on your list a unique gift. You can save a lot of time and money by buying in bulk and creating something thoughtful that each individual will appreciate. Ideas include:
- Filling inexpensive coffee mugs with pens and pencils, gourmet coffee, or chocolate candies
- Buying rustic baskets at thrift stores and filling them with soaps and lotions for a home spa gift basket theme or spices, sauces, and condiments for the foodies on your list
- Collaging a cardboard box and filling it with acrylic paints, brushes, glue, and glitter for the artsy-craftsy folks in your life
How many photos from the year are stored on your smartphone? You probably have some once-in-a-lifetime shots that deserve to be shared with loved ones. Turn these digital images into treasured holiday gifts by printing them out and framing them. One high-quality image presented in an inexpensive frame can truly say a thousand words to the recipient.
Sites such as Snapfish and Shutterfly make it easy to create customized photo mugs, calendars, phone cases, and fleece blankets. You can design a personalized photo book with hundreds of your favorite images for everyone on your list. A budget-friendly, emotionally rich holiday gift that is sure to be cherished for a lifetime.
